First off, I wanted to thank you all so much for reading my blog and your comments. Ever single comment means the world to me as do your emails! 
These are the recipes that I truly enjoyed coming up with, working on and they bring back pretty good memories. And of course they’re the desserts that I loved devouring. These aren’t the recipes that necessarily got the most views or comments but the recipes that I personally loved the most.
So here are my Top 5 favorites because thinking of 10 or 11 posts confuses me.
1) Black Magic Cake with Mocha Buttercream
This posts combined all of my favorite things in life: Starbucks, Victor, coffee desserts, chocolate cake, sprinkles and mentions of a cute barista.
Before I made these for my blog, I had never in my life had a Nanaimo bar (uh or tart…) And well before this, I couldn’t pronounce the name…. nanasdjaslkdjadkl was what it sounded like before I learned the correct pronunciation.
Decorating cakes is one of my favorite things in the world except when things don’t go right and I want to throw the fondant out the window. Thankfully that doesn’t happen to often and it didn’t happen with this cake. But really, what’s not to love about decorating a cake all pretty and then getting to eat some?
4) Creating A Childhood Dessert Wonderland
This was one of my posts for the Foodbuzz 24×24 and it took me light years to complete. If you’re wondering what in the world’s in the photo below…Peanut Butter and Jelly Donut Holes, Sno-Ball Cupcakes, Homemade Funfetti Cake Balls, Mini Fluffernutter Cupcakes, Creamsicle Milkshake and a Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake. And yes I show you have to make ever single thing and there’s recipes for everything. Sugar HIIGGGHH!
I have no idea how I thought of making these. All I knew was that I wanted to make some kind of insane cupcake because insane desserts are my life. Next to bagels, coffee and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
FAQs with Me (of course…)
What is the difference between the types of vanilla extracts and which ones are best to use when?
I love Nielsen-Massey vanilla extract. For baking, I use Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla (Nielsen-Massey).
Nielsen-Massey does a great job explaining the different types of vanilla extracts and which vanilla extracts work best for particular foods on their site. It’s quite interesting actually.
Where do you find most of your recipe ideas?
They pop into my head at the most random times. Or I think of an idea, a flavor combination and it evolves into some insane idea. Usually I’m just a crazy nut in the kitchen and things just happen.
Can you offer any tips on working with fondant?
Yes of course!
First tip: You first need to learn how to properly stack, fill and frost a cake. Keep practicing stacking cakes, filling them and frosting them. (the outside of your cake should be completely smooth) If the frosting isn’t completely smooth on the outside of your cake, then you’ll have bumps all over your cake when you apply the fondant. Or if your cake is leaning, you won’t be able to get the fondant smooth.
Once you’re really good at that, then you can start working with fondant.
I typically put fondant on cakes that use a crusting buttercream. A crusting buttercream has a higher ratio of sugar to fat (butter/shortening) and forms a crust on the outside. Basically the frosting isn’t sticky on the outside. With a crusting buttercream, it makes the process of smoothing out the buttercream much easier.
Get some good fondant. Some fondants just don’t work well and will make working with it much more difficult.
I highly recommend Fondarific.
To make it more pliable, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds. While working with the fondant and if it’s too difficult to work with, put it in the microwave again.
Do you have some great savory recipes? dips, entrees, suppers?
I actually used to cook A LOT before I baked a lot. Most of the recipes when I cook are Ina Garten’s recipes tweaked.
What do you do for fun outside of baking and blogging?
What is fun? I’m kidding. I like shopping (haha), painting, walking (that’s fun right?) and reading.
Who’s your celebrity crush?
Josh Klinghoffer from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
But of course I am totally into Anthony Kiedis too. 
What’s your favorite post you’ve done?
See above for #1!
How do you handle negative comments?
Complain on Twitter and then delete. Some people are cruel and I’d like to smack them with a big tub of artificially flavored frosting. Seriously though, I don’t give a crap.
Who eats all of your desserts?
The squirrels kind of like my brownies…. Seriously though, I’ve already answered this on my FAQs page and on many many FAQs posts, maybe a million times.
I’m refusing to answer that question ever again, haha!
What’s your favorite thing to bake?
It depends on my mood. But most of the time, I love making cupcakes more than anything. They’re fun to make and I like piping frosting. (and eating frosting…)
What’s your least favorite thing to bake?
Cookies. It’s not that I hate making them but it’s just not as fun for me. There are times though when I LOVE making cookies. (probably because I just want to eat the dough) If you ever see a cookie post, it was because I was really in the mood to make cookies.
What’s the best thing about blogging?
Comments from my readers and emails. I LOVE LOVE LOVE emails. Don’t you ever think you’re bothering me with your emails, ok?! It may take me a while to respond but I will write back!
I am not a food snob. I don’t look down on people who bake using mixes from boxes. I love cake from a box. Bake me something from a box and I’ll love you just the same. Although I have to admit, I’ll be super impressed if you baked me something from scratch.
Next to bagels, chocolate cake is my favorite food ever. But it has to have a ton of frosting.
Chocolate cake from Costco is delicious. I don’t care what anyone says. And I love samples from Costco.
I love americanos from Starbucks. I’m not into fancy drinks. And milk skeeves me out.
I wake up at the crack of dawn in the mornings….like before 6am. Because I like to.
Walking in the pouring rain makes me happy. I am weird.
Oh and sorry I went all smiley face happy on you all! haha!
Hey Lindsey! I remember all of these posts, and all of them impressed me quite a bit, they all sounded amazing! I am especially loving that red velvet cake, it was so beautiful and the fondant stars are so cute
! I love americanos from Starbucks as well, no milk just as is 
! Great post 
!
I love this and my favorite think is your response to mean comments lol
I LOVE everything you bake!!! #3 is the one that just floored me when you originally posted it…so stunning. And I MUST bake #1…my family thanks you ahead of time!!! Happy, happy New Year to one of my favorite bloggers!!!! xoxo
I love this FAQ page and love that you’re not a food snob and are cool with boxed mixes. And it’s funny, one of the things I bake LEAST, i.e. almost never, is cupcakes b/c I find them to be more work than anything else. Cookies are more work than bars…love me a pan of bars…so easy.
And great roundup. Those cupcakes make me wanna make cupcakes!
You’ve certainly had a great year!! I think that Black Magic cake is my favorite too!!
I just love looking at all your pics, and drooling. You are so creative, but maybe it’s all that sugar?, huh. Your Red velvet cake is amazing. Looking forward to 2012!
I love Costco’s chocolate cake too. I keep waiting for someone to come up with a copycat version of it so I can make it at home!
So what do you do w/all these desserts…kidding! I remember you getting that ? often. And I remember each and every one of these yummy desserts:)What fun post to end the year and learn more about you. Walking in the rain rocks and so the RHCP!!!:)xx
Aww we love ya!
Great post! Super entertaining!
Thanks to this post, I went to your FAQ page and read everything…FINALLY someone else who understands my love for Juanes!! And chocolate cake. I think you and I would get along just fine
I think we would too! Juanes is the best!
Lovey post
and great selection of recipes. How could I have missed those Nanaimo tarts??? And I also love Costco bakery, they used to have my favorite ever croissants, until they changed the recipe recently … I have to try their chocolate cake now. Happy 2012, Lindsey!
Great post, Lindsey. Looking forward to your posts in 2012. Happy new year!
I love the way you think and create, and I just love your blog! You are one of the sweetest bloggers I know, and I’m looking forward to following along and seeing what you come up with in 2012. Sending lots of love and butter for a happy new year!!
Great top 5. Have a GREAT 2012!
I always enjoy when you answer questions. Gives us a bit more insight into who you are – even just with you talking. Not that I don’t get that from twitter
Still loving that red velvet fondant cake! So fun. Happy new year 
what a busy year! lovely! happy new year, here’s to many more desserts in 2012
What a delicious year you had! Thanks for a great year and LOVE the FAQ! I’ve had more fun with you on twitter! ~Ann
P.S. Good luck with McDonald’s Guy! LOL!
Lindsey, a great selection of top 5! The Fluffernutter Cupcakes look yummy!
Happy New Year!
Mmm that mocha buttercream sounds delicious and I remember that candyland post – love it! Happy new year!
Food snobs are assholes. I happen to prefer baking from scratch and I do avoid heavily processed foods, but I don’t feel that my cooking is “better or worse.” It is just how I choose to live. I am never un-appreciative. People often take for granted the act of sharing. If someone is taking the time to cook and share a meal with people they love then they are passing along blessings.
WOW! I will definitely be making some of these! Just discovered your blog, so thanks for rounding up the Top 5 for me to start with.
Your recipes look delicious, especially the wonderland of sweets, wow, I feel like I need to brush my teeth of all that sugar, haha. Anyways, happy new year! Oh and I totally relate to waking up early. I am completely awake and functional at five in the morning (for school) and on weekends it’s rare if I sleep past half past seven.
Definitely loved the FAQ section! (as well as the Top 5 of course)
Just found your website and purchased marshmallow creme for the fluffernutter cupcakes. Can’t wait.
Who doesn’t love to shop (Me, I’m a totally shopping party pooper, but the idea makes me happy!) lol. Loved your posts this year (Yes, this is seriously how far behind I am. Working on it. Promise).